Improvement in fire-escapes



I T L- BENNETT.

Fire-Escape.,

No. 203,527. Patented May 14, 187s.

lll

iUNrTEDJSTA-'we lDATEN-T GFFIGE@ TowNsEND L, BENNETT, on `EASTTEMPLETON, `ivrAssAo'HUsETTs; y

IMPROVEMENT Fl RE-Es'cAPi-:s

Specicationfforming part of Letters Patent No; 20S-,527, dated May 14,1878; applicationled To all whom t may concern:

which the following is a specification:

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure l represents a perspective view of an apparatus embodying myinvention, two of the wheels on which it restsbeing removed to showtheparts more clearly. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal ver-A;

tical central section of the same. Similar letters of reference in thedifferen figures refer to like parts.

This invention has for its object to provide i a simple andeasily-operated apparatus, whereby persons can be lowered with safetyfrom various heights on'a` burning building.

To these ends my invention consists in the improvements in theconstruction of fire-escapes which I will now proceed to describe andpoint out in my claims.

In the drawings, A represents the general frame-work of a truck orvehicle designed for the support and conveyance of the apparatusembodying my invention, and B the wheels thereof. Rigidly attached tothe frame-work A are two pairs of guides, C C and C C', these guidesbeing inclined, and constituting ways or tracks for two slidingcross-heads' or fulcrums, D D. The cross-head D is connected with aninclined screw-shaft, E, in such manner that when the latter is revolvedit will move the cross-head D up or down on the guides C C, the shaft Ebeing' journaled in bearin gs in the frame A, and rotated by means of atiller-wheel, F, located on a shaft, G, having a pinion, H, which mesheswith abevelpinion, I, on the shaft E. The cross-head D is connected tothe cross-head Dl by ropes J J J said ropes passing overfriction-pulleys located at suitable points on the frame A, and being soarranged that when the cross-head D is moved along the guides C by thescrewshaft E the cross-head D will be moved in the opposite directionalong the guides C'.

K represents the arm, which constitutes the means for lowering personsand for conducting water. This arm is hinged or pivoted at its inner endto the cross-head D, and bears against the cross-head D at a pointbetween 'september is, 1877.

A 1 Y H the cross-head D and its outer end, asshown',

Beit known that I, TowNsEND L.- BENNETT, of East Templeton, in thecounty of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certainImprovements in Fire Escapes, of

the cross-head D being preferably provided with a recess, to receive theside of the` arm K and steady the same laterally. The arm `K` is of anydesired length, and is made in sections l 2 3, the outer sections beingdetachable from each other and from the section ll,`a`ny` suitablecouplings or joints being provided l'for connecting the sections. Thematerial of the arm K is preferably wood; f A

It Will'be seen that by moving the crosshead D upwardly the cross-head Dwill be moved downwardly, and vice versa,` the re sult of these motionsof the cross-heads being the verticalswinging of Vthe arm K uponanimaginary pivot located between the crossheads, the power beingtherefore applied simultaneously on both sides of suoli imaginary pivot.Hence the arm can be operated with a small expenditure of power, andcanA be caused to assume a vertical, horizontal, or any intermediateposition, the friction of the mechanism for moving the cross-head D'holding the arm in any position it is capable of assuming.

L represents a bucket, which is suspended ,i by ropes M M from the outerend of the arm K, said ropes passing over pulleys N on the arm K, andextending to a drum, 0, which is journaled in bearings on an elevatedportion ofthe frame A. The shaft of the drum O is provided with apinion, which meshes with a screw-shaft, P, which is also journaled onbearings on the frame A, and is provided with a tiller-wheel, R, by therotation of which the drum O is rotated and caused to wind or unwind theropes M M, thus raising or lowering the bucket L, as will be readilyseen. The

ropes M are attached to a hoop or ring, S, near their point ofattachment to the bucket,

this ring surrounding the arm K and keeping the bucket in closeproximity to said arm. I prefer to divide the bucket vertically into twosections, these being hinged together, and the bottom of the bucketbeing provided with a hole larger than the arm K. The bucket is thusadapted to inclose the arm K and move up and down thereon. This is donewhen the arm is in a vertical position. The arm K is provided with awater pipe or conduit, T, adapted to convey water from the inner to theouter end of the arm. I prefer to make said pipe of metal, and incase itin the arm K, as shown in Fig. 2, although it may be attached in anyvdesired manner to the outside of the arm. The pipe T is adapted to beconnected at the inner end of the arm with a fire-engine or otherwater-supply, and is provided at the outer end of the arm with asuitable' nozzle.

In the present case I provide the outer end of the arm with a curvednozzle, U, adapted to deflect a stream of water passing through the pipeT, and direct it laterally om the arm toward a building beside which theapparatus is located.

If desired, the`pipe T may be iiexible, or may have a flexible end, witha suitable nozzle beyond the outer end of the arm K.

From the f foregoing description it will be seen that the arm K isadapted to guide the bucket L upwardly and downwardly, and to any heightwithin the length of its radius, and is also adapted to conduct water tovarious heights, and discharge it in close proximity to the flames, thusacting both as a fire-escape and as an extinguisher.

The bucket can be readily raised and lowered v by means ofthe ropes, thedrum, and the devices for rotating the same, said devices alsov holdingthe drum at any point, so that there is no danger of the bucket fallingwhen the operator removes his hands from the wheel R. `The bucket may beused to elevate firemen to the upper end of the arm, from which pointthey can direct the stream of water passing through the pipe T in anydirection, the pipe having a iiexible end.

When the arm K is in a verticai position it is prevented from tippingbackward by a platform or stop, A', on the ame A, said platform beingrecessed to receive one side of the arm. When the arm K is disjointedthe outer sections are placed on supports V W located on the frame A,the supports V having lugs fu, which enter the ends of the sections,while the supports W have curved arms w, on which the opposite ends ofthe lsections rest.

I claim as my inventionl. The frame A, provided with guides C C',sliding cross-heads D D', and means, substantially as described, formoving said crossheads simultaneously in different directions, combinedwith the arm K, which is pivoted to the cross-head D, and rests againstthe crosshead D', substantially as set forth.

2. The arm K, supported on a portable frame, and arranged to be swungvertically and held at any desired angle, combined with the bucket Il,and means, substantially as described, for moving said bucket along thearm K in either direction, and holding it at any desired point, as setforth.

3. The bucket L, made in two sections, hinged together, and adapted toinclose the arm K, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

. TOWN SEND Il.V BENNETT.

Witnesses: L. W. FAIRGHILD, C. F. BROWN.

